Patents by Inventor David A. Ender

David A. Ender has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9200763
    Abstract: Flexible lighting assemblies (100) are disclosed. Specifically, flexible lighting assemblies that are made up of a flexible cable (102), a plurality of light emitting diodes (112), and a plurality of transparent light distribution segments (116) that distribute light along the length of the cable by deflectors positioned over the light emitting diodes. The lighting assembly allows for flexible lighting without the glare and non-uniformity problems often associated with flexible lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott M. Schnobrich, Bing Hao, David A. Ender
  • Publication number: 20150330593
    Abstract: A taillight article (100) including a light guide (110) having an light emission front surface (112) and a rear surface (114) and a plurality of light extraction features (116) on or within the light guide (110), configured to direct light out through the emission surface (112), is described. A first light source (120) indicing a first signal function is configured to direct light in a first direction into a side surface (118) of the light guide. A second light source (130) indicating a second signal function is configured to direct light in a second direction into a second side surface (119) of the light guide, the second direction being different than the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeremy K. Larsen, David A. Ender, Jennifer J. Sahlin, Karl A. Vick, Michael E. Griffin, Scott M. Schnobrich, Bing Hao
  • Publication number: 20150330834
    Abstract: Optical devices (100) that contain a sensor (140) are described. More particularly, optical devices that contain a light source (120), cavity (110) and sensor (140), in which the optical device (100) may provide an optimal light output from an output surface (112) of the cavity (110) based on various characteristics of the light are described. Additionally, methods of making and using such optical devices as well as arrays of such optical devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Michael E. Griffin, David A. Ender
  • Publication number: 20150316227
    Abstract: A taillight article (100) including at least two optically clear light guides (110, 130) stacked on each other to provide vehicle signal function is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jennifer J. Sahlin, Scott M. Schnobrich, Jeremy K. Larsen, Michael E. Griffin, Bing Hao, Karl A. Vick, David A. Ender
  • Patent number: 9151460
    Abstract: Light assembly having reflector (17), a light source (22), an outer light cover (12) having a first color zone (15) and a second, different color or clear zone (16), and an inner lens (19) with a transflective surface. Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components. Vehicle comprising light assemblies include those where the light assembly is a vehicle tail light assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy V. Stagg, David A. Ender, Mark E. Napierala, Barry S. Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20150009586
    Abstract: Lightguides, devices incorporating lightguides, processes for making lightguides, and tools used to make lightguides are described. A lightguide includes light extractors arranged in a plurality of regions on a surface of the lightguide. The orientation of light extractors in each region is arranged to enhance uniformity and brightness across a surface of the lightguide and to provide enhanced defect hiding. The efficiency of the light extractors is controlled by the angle of a given light extractor face with respect to a light source illuminating the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lee, David A. Ender, Guoping Mao, Jun-Ying Zhang, Jaime B. Willoughby
  • Patent number: 8909009
    Abstract: Lightguides, devices incorporating lightguides, processes for making lightguides, and tools used to make lightguides are described. A lightguide includes light extractors arranged in a plurality of regions on a surface of the lightguide. The orientation of light extractors in each region is arranged to enhance uniformity and brightness across a surface of the lightguide and to provide enhanced defect hiding. The efficiency of the light extractors is controlled by the angle of a given light extractor face with respect to a light source illuminating the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lee, David A. Ender, Guoping Mao, Jun-Ying Zhang, Jaime B. Willoughby
  • Publication number: 20140268792
    Abstract: Flexible lighting assemblies (100) are disclosed. Specifically, flexible lighting assemblies that are made up of a flexible cable (102), a plurality of light emitting diodes (112), and a plurality of transparent light distribution segments (116) that distribute light along the length of the cable by deflectors positioned over the light emitting diodes. The lighting assembly allows for flexible lighting without the glare and non-uniformity problems often associated with flexible lighting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott M. Schnobrich, Bing Hao, David A. Ender
  • Patent number: 8322874
    Abstract: Lightguides, devices incorporating lightguides, and processes for making lightguides are described. A lightguide includes light extractors arranged in a pattern on a surface of the lightguide. The pattern of light extractors is arranged to enhance uniformity of light output across a surface of the lightguide and to provide enhanced defect hiding. The efficiency of the light extractors is controlled by a shape factor. The areal density of the light extractors across the surface of the lightguide may be substantially constant or may decrease along the direction of propagation of light from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: David A. Ender
  • Publication number: 20120120672
    Abstract: Light assembly having reflector (17), a light source (22), an outer light cover (12) having a first color zone (15) and a second, different color or clear zone (16), and an inner lens (19) with a transflective surface. Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components. Vehicle comprising light assemblies include those where the light assembly is a vehicle tail light assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy V. Stagg, David A. Ender, Mark E. Napierala, Barry S. Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20120114284
    Abstract: Lightguide is disclosed. The lightguide includes a staircase shape optical construction that includes a plurality of light reflecting risers. At least two of the risers include non-parallel light reflecting portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: David A. Ender
  • Publication number: 20120099343
    Abstract: A lightguide (100) is disclosed. The lightguide includes a plurality of light extractors (120-123). Each light extractor is designed primarily to extract light that propagates within the lightguide and is incident on the light extractor from a first direction and reflect light that propagates within the lightguide and is incident on the light extractor from a second direction different than the first direction, toward another light extractor, where the other light extractor extracts the reflected light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: David A. Ender
  • Publication number: 20120039084
    Abstract: Light assembly (10) having reflector (16), light source(18), an outer light cover(12), and a curved transflective surface (15). Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components. Vehicle comprising light assemblies include those where the light assembly is a vehicle tail light assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Barry S. Carpenter, David A. Ender, David J. Lundin, Mark E. Napierala, Jennifer J. Sahlin, David F. Slama, Karl A. Vick, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20110243500
    Abstract: Lightguides, devices incorporating lightguides, processes for making lightguides, and tools used to make lightguides are described. A lightguide includes light extractors arranged in a plurality of regions on a surface of the lightguide. The orientation of light extractors in each region is arranged to enhance uniformity and brightness across a surface of the lightguide and to provide enhanced defect hiding. The efficiency of the light extractors is controlled by the angle of a given light extractor face with respect to a light source illuminating the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lee, David A. Ender, Guoping Mao, Jun-Ying Zhang, James B. Willoughby
  • Patent number: 7941013
    Abstract: A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons/thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures. Each one of the array of light extraction structures has at least one shape factor; the shape factor may vary across the array. At least one light extraction structure may have the geometric configuration of a truncated asphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Charles A. Marttila, Charles D. Hoyle, David A. Ender, Jaime B. Willoughby, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Patent number: 7936956
    Abstract: A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons, thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Charles A. Marttila, Charles D. Hoyle, David A. Ender, Jaime B. Willoughby, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Publication number: 20100288614
    Abstract: Lightguides, devices incorporating lightguides, and processes for making lightguides are described. A lightguide includes light extractors arranged in a pattern on a surface of the lightguide. The pattern of light extractors is arranged to enhance uniformity of light output across a surface of the lightguide and to provide enhanced defect hiding. The efficiency of the light extractors is controlled by a shape factor. The areal density of the light extractors across the surface of the lightguide may be substantially constant or may decrease along the direction of propagation of light from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: David A. ENDER
  • Publication number: 20090285543
    Abstract: A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons, thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Charles A. Marttila, Charles D. Hoyle, David A. Ender, Jaime B. Willoughby, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Publication number: 20090279321
    Abstract: A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons, thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Charles A. Marttila, Charles D. Hoyle, David A. Ender, Jamie B. Willoughby, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Publication number: 20090175050
    Abstract: A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons/thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures. Each one of the array of light extraction structures has at least one shape factor; the shape factor may vary across the array. At least one light extraction structure may have the geometric configuration of a truncated asphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Charles A. Marttila, Charles D. Hoyle, David A. Ender, Jaime B. Willoughby, Robert J. DeVoe